Valve-gear of apparatus for conveying liquids or gases.



A R. RIjDEN BBRG & F. KOEHLER.

VALVE GEAR 0P APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING LIQUIDS 0R GASES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1911.

Patented Dec. 17,1912

HUI

lkvezaa m R E h REINHOLD RODENBERG AND FERDINAND KOEHLER, OF CHARLOTTENBURG, GER- MANY, ASSIGNORS TO SIEMENS SCHUCKERTWERKE G. M.

B. OF BERLIN,

GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

VALVE-GEAR OF APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING LIQUIFDS OR GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec.1 7, 1912.

Application filed June 22, 1911. Serial No. 634,832.

Be it known that we, RmNHoLD Rt'mnN- iii-inc and FERDINAND Konnnnn, subjects of the German Emperor, and residing at Chariottenburg. near Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-(tear of Apparatus for Conveying Liquids or Gases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the valve gear of those apparatuses for conveying liquids or gases, in which acolumn of liquid is set in motion by the pressure of a gas.

The invention consists in making the valve gear dependent on the pressures of an air vessel which are l'H'UPOl'l'lOHtll to the height of the column of liquid for the time being.

One illustrative embodiment of the invention and a modification thereof are represented by way of example in the accompanying drawing, whcrein:-

Figure l a vertical sectional elevation showing one form of the improved gear. and Fig. 2 is a like view of a modified form.

Referring firstly to Fig. l, the pump here shown comprises a combustion chamber 1 which, with the exception of a small part containing a compressed combustible gaseous i'nixture, is tilled with liquid at the beginning ot' the cycle of operations. \Yhen ignition takes place the liquid is forced out, ot the combustion chamber into the pipe 3 connected therewith, and part of it passes through check valves T into the delivery pipe and part into an air v ssel 2. In consequence of the kinetic energy of the column o't'liquid the lat teroscillates in the pipe 3. and

. continues to do so when the pressure of the gases has fallen in the combustion chamber and thereby produces a pressure below atmospheric therein. and conseque tly tresh liquid is sucked in through the suction valves (5.

The column o'l liquid gradually comes to restowing to its filling the free chamber of the air vessel and mrrespondinglv in-- creasing the pressure ol the latter. The en crgv stored in the air contained in the air vessel now forces the column of liquid back again so that it swings back out of the pipe 3 into the combustion chamber and commences to rise in the latter. it about the lowest lPHl ot the liquid in the combustion chamber the exhaust valve 5 opens, so that gases are driven out. The risinglevel of the liquid presses the exhaust valve against its seat and closes it. As the liquid rises further it compresses the residue of gas or scavenging air still at the top of the combustion chamber above the exhaust valve until it becomes stationary again, whereupon it is driven away from the combustion chamber again owing to the expansion of this air cushion and consequently makes its third stroke. During this movement the inlet valve at opens, new gas is sucked in until the kinetic energy of the column of liquid is again used up by compressing air in the air vessel. The fourth stroke of the liquid piston now begins, this being again directed toward the combustion chamber, and compresses the previously sucked in gaseous mixture which operation takes place, of course, when the gas inlet valve is closed. lgnition subsequently takes place and the cycle of operations is repeated.

In this pump it is ditiicult always to operate the v ves atthecorrect moment. The height ott'ne liquid piston is solely decisive as to the moment when the valves must be operated, (in as to when the exhaust valve must be opened: in contradistinctitm to the position of 'a metal piston, however, this position cannot be directly indicated outs de at all -or only im wrtectly by a mechanical member, by which the valve gear could be controlled.

Now according'to this invention the pres-' sure of the air in the air vessel 2 is used for actuating the valve gear; In this case. this vessel is also the air vessel which simultaneously supplies the energy tor the. return oscillation of the 'column or liquid. which arrangemeut is specially simple but. it is, of course, to l eitn lersto d that this is not absolutely necessary. and the vessel may be any desired air vessel whose pressure corresponds to the momentary position of the liquid piston. a

\Yhen the pressure in the air vessel .2 is greatest the level of the liquid in the coinbustion chamber has reached its lowest 'position. It theair vessel 2 is connected by .a pipe P with an air cylinder lt). whose "piston 11 indirectly or directly opens the exhaust *alve 5, the piston 11 must be ot such a size when the chamber is being refilled the burnt that it opens the exhaust valve precisely when the pressure in the air vessel is a maximum.

It is to be understood that any desired closing or regulating members 9 may be provided in the pipe 8.

The described gear cannot be employed without modification in pumps according to Fig. 2. This pump operates as follows 2- lVhile the condition after the fourth stroke exists in the chamber 1 and the chamber is consequently filled with liquid and compressed fresh gaseous mixture, there exists in chamber 12 the condition after the second stroke, 2'. 0., the liquid flowing back into the chamber has expelled the products of combustion and filled the chamber. \Vhen ignition now takes place in chamber 1, the column of liquid is driven outof this chamber and carries along with it that out of chamber 12. A portion of the liquid thrown forward enters into the air vessel 2, while the remainder is conveyed outward through the check valves 7 Owing to the pressure below atmospheric produced near the chambers 1 and 12 new liquid is sucked in through the suction valves 6 and fresh gaseous mixture through the inlet valve t in chamber 12. \Vhen the level of the liquid in the combustion chambers is lowest the exhaust valve 5 of the chamber 1 opens, while the inlet valve of chamber 12 closes and the exhaust valve 5 of this chamber continues to remain closed. hen the column of liquid returns from the air vessel the residues of gases in chamber 1 are expelled, while the new mixture is compressed in chamber 12. Ignition then occurs in chamber 12 and the cycle of opera tion is repeated, the parts played in the chambers being exchanged.

Each time the air pressure in the air vessel attains a maximum, 2'. -e., when the level of liquid in one of the chambers has sunk to its lowest point, the exhaust valve of the one chamber must be opened and the other nmst remain closed alternately. According to the invention and as illustrated in Fig. 2 this changing control can also be brought about by the pressure of the same air vessel which is, of course, not influenced by the exchange of the functions of the parts in the chambers, when supplementary governing means are provided which take into account this change. Such supplementary governing can be brought about, for ex-- ample, by using the height for the time being of the level of liquid in the combustion chamber for actuating a governing member, as will be understood from the following.

Fig. 2 represents, by way of example, the gear of the exhaust valve 5 of chamber 1.

Here again the pressure of the air vessel acts on a piston 11 and by forcing the same downward tends to open the exhaust valve 5. A catch 15, however, holds the valve closed. Only when the level of liquid in chamber 1 and with it a float 18 has quite descended does a stop 16 drawn down by the float release the catch which is then withdrawn by a spring 17, whereupon the air pressure on the piston 11 can become operative and open the exhaust 'alve At the same time the level of liquid in the adjacent chamber 12 has not fallen so low as in chamber 1 because as much liquid has not been ejected from chamber 12 by the suction stroke as from chamber 1 by the explosion stroke. Consequently, when a similar float is arranged in like manner in chamber 12 the exhaust alve of the latter will not yet be released so that the same remains closed for the return stroke.

e claim 1- 1. In apparatus of the character described, for conveying liquids or gases, the combination with an ignition chamber having a gas inlet and an exhaust valve, a pipe connected to the ignition chamber and containing a column of water able to oscillate freely therein, and an air vessel connected to the pipe, the pressure in the air vessel being proportional to the height of the column of liquid, of means controlled through the medium of the pressure in the air vessel for actuating one of the said valves.

2. ln apparatus of the character described for conveying liquids or gases, the combination with an ignition chamber having a gas inlet and an exhaust valve, a pipe connected to the ignition chamber and containing a column of water able to oscillate freely therein. and an air vessel connected to the pipe, the pressure in the air vessel being proportional to the height of the column of liquid, of means controlled through the me dium of the pressure in the air vessel for actuating the said exhaust valve.

3. In apparatus of the character described for conveying liquids or gases, the combination with an ignition chamber having a gas inlet and an exhaust valve, a pipe connected to the ignition chamber and containing a column of water able to oscillate freely therein, and an air vessel connected to the pipe, the pressure in the air vessel being proportional to the height of the column of liquid, of means controlled in direct dependence on the pressure in the air vessel for actuating the said exhaust valve.

4. In apparatus of the character described for conveying liquids or gases, the combination with an ignition chamber having a gas inlet and an exhaust valve, a pipe connected to the ignition chamber and containing a column of water able. to oscillate freely -gherein, and an air vessel connected to the haust valve inits closed position, means actuated in dependence on the pressure of the column of liquid for controlling the locking means, and means'controlled by the pressure in the air vessel for actuating the said exhaust valve when the same is unlocked by the said locking means.

5. In apparatus 'of the character described for conveying liquids or gases, the combination with an ignition chamber having a gas inlet and an exhaust valve, a pipe connected to the ignition chamber and containing a column of Water able to oscillate freely therein; and an air vessel connected to the pipe, the pressure in the air vessel being proportional to the height of the column of l liquid, of locking means comprising a float height of the column of-liquid, and means controlled in dependence on the pressure in the air vessel for actuating the exhaust valve when the same is unlocked by the said lockmg means.

In testimony whereof we have signed our 25 names to this specification in the presence of two Witnesses. v

.REIN'HOLD RUBEN-BERG. FERDINAND KOEHLER. Witnesses? VV LDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER. 

